Service conductors NEC 230

[nonsinusoidal]

It is my understanding that overhead service conductors shall be protected against physical damage as per 230.50 A according to 230.50 B. Recently, an electrician installed overhead service conductors from the service drop conductors to a meter socket on a pole. The overhead service conductors were not placed within a raceway (conduit and a service head). The installation took place on an electric utility's pole. The electrician had all of the appropriate permits to install the meter socket on the pole to feed a rectifier unit. The electrician and the electrical inspector indicated that the installation was built according to the NEC 2008, article 230. The type of conductor utilized for the installation were copper overhead conductors type SE-Style R.

My question is:

I am not able to locate exactly where under the NEC 230 it allows the above mention conductors to not be protected by a raceway type as permitted per 230.50 B.

Can anyone give any advice to set me straight on where exactly the NEC allows the above mentioned installation?

 

[dpc]

See Article 338 on SE cable and Article 230.43

I'm not totally clear on the installation, but it may be legal per NEC. Also, NEC does not apply on the utility's side of the service point.

 

[rbulsara]

As dpc said ,NEC is not applicable to installations on the line side of the utility meter.

Compare to similar installations in the town. Insulated conductors on messenger wires is the most common method for OH service drop conductors.

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[rbulsara]

OK, apologies.

Re-reading your post, if the meter is on the pole, then the conductors between the meter and the building (service disconnect) needs to be protected. But 230.50(B)(1)(5) "Other approved means" is subject to interpretation.

I did not check the entire code but overhead installation is not necessarily prohibited by code. You may want to consult the local inspector.



Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[nonsinusoidal]

I indicated above that the meter socket(to metered power) is to be utilized to electrically feed a rectifier unit(for a corrosion protection system, no buildings involved). The question is should the conductors from the service drop point to the service conductors shall be protected as mandated by NEC 230.50 A. I agree with you as per NEC 230.50 B!

 

[TLCPA]

NEC 230.50(B)(1) says protection for service cables is required "where subject to physical damage." Running SE cable down a pole is no different than running SE cable down the side of a house. NEC 338.12(A)(1) again points out the need for protection only "where subject to physical damage." It looks like the reference in NEC 331.12(A)(1)to 230.50(A) is incorrect. We are not talking about underground service-entrance conductors.

 

[nonsinusoidal]

The meter socket is fed from an overhead system.

 

[alehman]

If it's not "where subject to physical damage", protection is not required. Obviously that's open to interpretation of the AHJ.

Alan
“The engineer's first problem in any design situation is to discover what the problem really is.” Unk.